Fit, measuring and alterations · 8 October 2026 · 4 min read
How to check the fit of a new kameez in five minutes
How to check if clothes fit properly: a five-minute stand, sit, reach, bend and walk routine for a new kameez and trousers, and what each movement tells you.
InspirationThe routine in one paragraph
To check whether a kameez fits, put on the whole outfit with the underwear and shoes you will wear, then stand, sit, reach, bend and walk for about a minute each, watching for pulling, gaping, riding up and dragging. A kameez that looks right standing still but fights you when you move does not fit; one that settles back into place after every movement does.
Do it before washing or removing anything, in daylight, in front of a full-length mirror. A phone on a timer helps you see the back. For an abaya, our abaya arrival checklist covers the extra points.
Stand: shoulders, neckline, seams and hem
Stand naturally with your arms by your sides, not drawn up tall. Look for:
- Shoulder seams ending at the bony point of each shoulder.
- A neckline lying flat, neither gaping at the front nor pulling against the throat.
- No diagonal creases pointing at the bust, armholes or hips; those mean tightness.
- Side seams hanging straight down rather than swinging forward or back.
- A hem that looks level from the front, side and back.
- Trousers hanging cleanly, without folds at the crotch or pull across the front.
Sit, then reach
Sit on an ordinary chair for a minute. The kameez should open at the side slits over your thighs without straining across the hips, the trouser waistband should neither dig in nor roll, and the trousers should not feel tight at the seat or thigh. Every garment feels a little closer seated, but it should not hurt.
Next, reach forward as if holding a steering wheel, then lift both hands to the back of your head. Some tightness across the back is normal. Seams straining, the hem climbing to your waist or sleeves riding halfway up your forearm are not. Armhole and shoulder problems explains what those signs point to.
Bend, then walk
Bend as though picking something up from the floor. Watch the neckline (does it fall open?), the back hem (does it lift and show your back?) and the trousers at the back waist. Then walk around the room and up a stair if you have one. Trousers should not catch under your heel, the kameez should not twist round your body, and the slits should let your legs move freely.
If a movement fails, note which one and exactly where you felt it. That precise description is what makes the next order better.
Fault or preference?
Your outfit is made to the measurements and design agreed in writing before cutting. If it does not match them, say a sleeve differs from the agreed length or the neckline is not the agreed style, that is our mistake, and we correct or remake it without charge for the work. Report it no later than 7 days after delivery, with photos; the customer pays the postage both ways. What to do if your outfit does not match your order sets out the steps.
A preference you only discover by wearing, such as wanting more room than you asked for, is not a fault. Write it down for next time and compare it with our ease guide. When you order again through custom stitching, add those notes to your quote request.
Common questions
Should I wash a new kameez before checking the fit?
No. Check it first, as it arrived, so any problem can be judged against the agreed measurements. Washing can soften or slightly shrink some fabrics, which makes a fit question harder to settle.
How tight is too tight when sitting?
A little extra closeness at the waist and hips is normal when seated. It is too tight if the waistband leaves a deep mark, the side seams strain or the kameez rides up so far you keep pulling it down.
Is the check different for a dress?
The movements are the same. With a dress, watch the hem when you sit and climb a step, and check that any waist seam lands at your waist rather than above or below it.
